DUI concerns for Georgia residents

April 17, 2013

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a criminal charge that can change a person's life forever. The state of Georgia regulates drinking and driving with an interest in making the roads a safe place for all. Holidays often involve an increased number of individuals partaking in alcohol-related events, and officers tend to increase patrols in order to respond to the increased activity.

St. Patrick's Day crackdowns

St. Patrick's Day is often associated with Irish culture, leprechauns, luck and green beer. It is a holiday where many individuals venture to Irish pubs to celebrate. The Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety gave comments about drinking on the holiday weekend, stating that no amount of luck would prevent drivers that had been drinking from getting into trouble.

Both the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the Georgia State Patrol placed warnings to Georgia drivers. The patrols planned on being out in full force and intended on looking for drunk drivers. DUI checkpoints provided officers with the opportunity to find drunk drivers and get them off of the roads.

Reasons for the crackdown

The director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety explained why the St. Patrick's Day crackdown was so crucial. In the United States, a total of 700 people over a span of six years died from drunk driving accidents on St. Patrick's Day. Although those numbers were for the nation as a whole, they are still alarming and Georgia patrols intended to do their part to prevent such tragedies.

There's an app for that

The state of Georgia is doing all it can think of to help drivers find a safe way home. They created a smartphone app that helps drivers find a sober ride home. The app gives a list of cabs and free rides available depending on the individual's location. The app is searchable on all smartphones, or the individual can scan a barcode on coasters distributed at certain bars in order to find the app. The app is called Drive Sober Georgia and law enforcement officials are optimistic that it will help keep the roads safe.

A DUI charge

A DUI can be extremely concerning for a charged individual. Georgia law sets the legal limit at a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent. When a person is over the legal limit and behind the wheel, certain penalties can result. DUI penalties in Georgia have been changing and are becoming more severe. First time offenders are required to attend a 20-hour class about risk reduction. Offenders also may receive a misdemeanor on their record, a fine that ranges from $300-$1000 and can be required do 20+ hours of community service.

These penalties are not the only possible consequences of a DUI. Sometimes a judge can require that the person install an interlock ignition device in his or her car. This device requires a driver to blow into a tube before starting the car and while driving the vehicle. If there is alcohol in the driver's system the ignition locks and the car will not start.

An individual arrested for a DUI deserves proper treatment by law enforcement. Because of the severe penalties that can result from a DUI charge, having an attorney specializing in DUI defense can provide individuals the knowledge and experience needed to protect the individual's rights and provide an aggressive defense.

Website: http://atlanta-duilawyer.org